Installation, apparatus and method for actuating doors, gates and the like under extreme environmental conditions

Abstract

An actuation installation for use under extreme environmental conditions, such as freezing, uses a two-fluid system in which one fluid is impervious to the extreme environment, and the other fluid, such as water, is not. A two-chamber accumulator-separator has a water chamber connected to a water source via control valves and a working fluid chamber connected to a hydraulic actuator port. The other actuator port is connected to a working fluid chamber of a two-chamber accumulator having a sealed air-pressure chamber. When water is admitted to the water chamber, the actuator will move in a first direction further compressing the air in the air pressure chamber. When the water is drained from the water chamber, the accumulator air-pressure moves the actuator in the opposite direction. The actuator is positioned in the extreme environment, with the remainder of the system installed in a protected environment such as underground.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An installation for actuating gates, doors or the like in extreme environmental conditions from a conventional source of water under pressure, said installation comprising: an installation which is protected from extreme environmental conditions, such as freezing temperatures or the like, including a rigid accumulator-separator vessel into a water chamber and a first working fluid chamber, a rigid accumulator vessel with means dividing said accumulator vessel into a second working fluid chamber and an air chamber;   a water supply line connected to said water source;   a supply value having an inlet port connected to said water supply line and an outlet connected to said water chamber;   a drain valve having an inlet port connected to said water chamber;   a hydraulic actuator positioned in an environment which is subject to extreme environmental conditions, such as freezing temperatures or the like, and having a first port connected to one of said working fluid chambers and a second port connected to the other of said working fluid chambers; and wherein   said working fluid chambers and said actuator are filled with a working fluid which is impervious to extreme environmental conditions.   
     
     
       2. The installation recited in claim 1 wherein: said movable means is a first flexible diaphragm; and   said accumulator dividing means includes a second flexible diaphragm for dividing said accumulator vessel into said second working fluid chamber and said air chamber.   
     
     
       3. The installation recited in claim 2 further comprising a second flow control valve connected between said water chamber and an inlet of said drain valve. 
     
     
       4. The installation recited in claim 1 further comprising: a check valve; and   a first adjustable flow control valve, said check valve and said first flow control valve connected between said water chamber and said outlet of said supply valve.   
     
     
       5. The installation recited in claim 1 in which said air chamber includes means for adding compressed air thereinto. 
     
     
       6. The installation recited in claim 1 wherein: said supply valve includes a solenoid for electrical control thereof; and   said drain valve includes a solenoid for electrical control thereof.   
     
     
       7. The installation recited in claim 6 further comprising control means connected to said supply valve solenoid and said drain valve solenoid for sequentially causing said supply valve and said drain valve to open. 
     
     
       8. The installation recited in claim 7 in which said control means comprises: first electrical relay means operatively connected to said supply valve solenoid;   second electrical relay means operatively connected to said drain valve solenoid;   first switch for operating said first relay means;   second switch for operating said second relay means;   said first and second relay means electrically interlocked wherein only one of said relay means can be closed at a time.   
     
     
       9. The installation recited in claim 8 in which said control means further comprises limit switch means disposed to be controlled by said actuator, said limit switch means connected to said first and second relay means to release said relay means at preselected positions of said actuator. 
     
     
       10. The installation recited in claim 1 wherein said accumulator-separator includes a stand-pipe therein and a compressible volume of air above the extremity of said stand-pipe. 
     
     
       11. An installation for actuating gates, doors or the like in extreme environmental conditions from a conventional source of water under pressure, said installation comprising: an installation which is protected from extreme environmental conditions, such as freezing temperatures or the like, including a first rigid accumulator-separator vessel having a first flexible diaphragm, said diaphragm dividing said first vessel into a first water chamber and a first working fluid chamber, and a second rigid accumulator-separator vessel having a second flexible diaphragm, said diaphragm dividing said second vessel into a second working fluid chamber and a second water chamber;   a hydraulic actuator located in an environment which is subject to extreme environmental conditions, such as freezing temperatures or the like, and having first port connected to said first working fluid chambers and a second port connected to said second working fluid chambers, said first and second working fluid chambers and said actuator filled with a working fluid impervious to conditions in said extreme environment;   a water supply line connected to a source of water under pressure;   a first supply valve having an inlet port connected to said water supply line and an outlet connected to said first water chamber;   a first drain valve having an inlet port connected to said first water chamber;   a second supply valve having an inlet port connected to said water supply line and an outlet connected to said second water chamber;   a second drain valve having an inlet port connected to said second water chamber; and wherein   said water pressure may be utilized to operate said actuator in said extreme environment.   
     
     
       12. The installation recited in claim 11 which further comprises: a first expansion chamber connected to said first water chamber; and   a second expansion chamber connected to said second water chamber.   
     
     
       13. The installation recited in claim 12 which further comprises: a first check valve;   a first adjustable flow control valve, said first check valve and said first flow control valve connected between said first water chamber and said outlet of said first supply valve;   a second check valve; and   a second adjustable flow control valve, said second check valve and said second flow control valve connected between said second water chamber and said outlet of said second supply valve.   
     
     
       14. A method for actuating a gate, door or the like in a location subject to extreme environmental conditions such as freezing temperatures or the like, from a conventional source of water under pressure, said method comprising of the steps of: providing an installation protected from said extreme environmental conditions and having a source of water under pressure and a working fluid impervious to said extreme environmental conditions;   separating said water from said working fluid;   pressurizing said working fluid with said water under pressure;   positioning an actuator in said location subject to said extreme environmental conditions and coupling said actuator to said gate, door or the like; and   actuating said actuator with said working fluid in said protected installation to thereby operate said gate, door or the like in said location.   
     
     
       15. The method recited in claim 14 further comprising the steps of: providing an enclosed volume of a compressible gas in said protected installation;   separating said enclosed compressible gas from said working fluid;   pressurizing said enclosed volume of compressible gas with said working fluid during actuation of said actuator; and thereafter   returning said actuator to an original position by pressure from said enclosed volume of compressible gas upon said working fluid.